RSVP of Ingham, Eaton, & Clinton Counties
© Copyright. All Rights Reserved
Become a Classroom Foster Grandparent--Inspire a Child. Change a Life. Leave a Lasting Legacy.
The Classroom Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) is one of the nation's oldest and most successful intergenerational volunteer programs. Since its inception, the program has connected caring adults age 55 and older with children and youth who need additional academic, social, and emotional support.
Classroom Foster Grandparents serve as mentors, role models, tutors, and trusted friends, helping children build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and develop positive relationships that can last a lifetime. The encouragement of a caring adult can make all the difference in a child's future.
Making an Impact in Our Community
RSVP recruits, trains, and places Foster Grandparent volunteers in schools, Head Start classrooms, and other educational settings throughout Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties.
Working alongside teachers and school staff, Foster Grandparents provide individualized attention to children who benefit from extra encouragement and support. Volunteers may:
Read one-on-one with students to improve literacy skills
Help children develop math and classroom skills
Encourage positive behavior and social development
Build confidence through mentoring and friendship
Support children with exceptional needs
Assist children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect
Provide encouragement and stability that helps students succeed both academically and emotionally
Every smile, every word of encouragement, and every moment spent listening helps create a stronger foundation for a child's future.
Volunteering Benefits You Too
When you volunteer, you're not only changing the lives of children—you are enriching your own life as well.
Research consistently shows that volunteering can:
Keep you active and engaged
Provide a renewed sense of purpose
Create lasting friendships
Improve emotional well-being
Strengthen connections within your community
Offer the joy of seeing a child grow and succeed
Many Foster Grandparents say the relationships they build with students are among the most rewarding experiences of their lives.
Benefits of Becoming a Foster Grandparent
If you are 55 years of age or older and meet the program's income eligibility guidelines (200% of the Federal Poverty Level or below), you may qualify to receive a tax-free monthly stipend while serving.
Additional program benefits include:
Tax-free monthly stipend
Transportation reimbursement while volunteering
Assistance with meal costs during service
Pre-service orientation and ongoing training
Annual physical examination
Paid leave and holidays
Recognition events celebrating your service
The opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day
The stipend, meal assistance, and transportation reimbursements are not considered income and do not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, or other qualifying public benefits.
Service Commitment
Foster Grandparents serve a minimum of 15 hours per week, with schedules developed in partnership with their assigned volunteer station to provide consistent support for students throughout the school year.
The Most Important Qualification Is a Caring Heart
You don't need to be a teacher or have previous classroom experience to become a Foster Grandparent. What matters most is your patience, compassion, and desire to help children reach their full potential.
A kind word, a listening ear, or a few extra minutes spent helping a child read can change the course of a young person's life. The relationships built through the Foster Grandparent Program often leave lasting impressions—not only on the children served, but on the volunteers themselves.
Help a child believe in themselves. Share your time, your wisdom, and your heart. Become a Classroom Foster Grandparent and make a difference that lasts a lifetime.